Sparring4 Taiji Spear and Staff:Individual Spear and Staff Martial TechniquesSpear and Staff Sticking-Matching PracticeLong-Weapons Sparring
5 Taiji Ball:Listening and Understanding Jing TrainingAdhere-Stick Jing TrainingTwo-Person Taiji Ball Training
6 Taiji Ruler:Unknown to Author
1-6. The Proper Approach and the Sequence of Learning Taiji
The Proper Approach to Learning Taiji
Whether or not a person learns something depends upon his attitude and seriousness. First he must make a firm decision to learn it, and then he must have a strong will to fulfill his intention. He needs perseverance and patience to last to the end. Even if a person has all these virtues, his achievement might still be different from that of another person who has the same qualities and personality. The difference is due to their manner of learning. If a person practices and then ponders every new thing he has learned, and keeps going back to research and master it, he will naturally be better than the person who never explores what he has learned. Both students may learn a method for changing rocks into gold, but only the first one will know why the method works. The former’s knowledge will continue to grow and he will soon become a master; the latter will always be only a practitioner.
Taiji theory is profound. It takes many years of learning, research, pondering, and practice to gradually grasp the key to the art and “enter into the temple.” However, the more you learn, the less you are likely to feel you understand. It is just like a bottomless well or a ceaselessly flowing river. In appendix A-6, the reader can find an ancient list of five mental keys the student of taiji needs in order to reach the higher levels of the art. It is said: (1) Study wide and deep; (2) Investigate, ask; (3) Ponder carefully; (4) Clearly discriminate; and (5) Work perseveringly. If you follow this procedure, you can learn anything, even how to become a wise and knowledgeable person.
In addition to the above learning attitude, a good master is also an important key to learning the high art of taijiquan. In China, there is a saying: “A disciple inquires and searches for a master for three years, and a master will test the disciple for three years.” It also says: “A disciple would rather spend three years looking for a good master than learn three years from an unqualified master.” A good master who comprehends the art and teaches it to his students is the key to changing a rock into a piece of gold. It is the teacher who can guide you to the doorway by the shortest path possible and help you avoid wasting your time and energy. It is said: “To enter the door and be led along the way, one needs oral instruction and practice without ceasing; the way is through self-practice” (see appendix A-15). It is also said: “Famous masters create great disciples.” On the other hand, a good master will also judge if a disciple is worth his spending the time and energy to teach. A student can be intelligent and practice hard in the beginning, and change his attitude later on. A student who practices, ponders, humbly asks, and researches on his own will naturally be a good successor to the style. Usually a master needs three years to see through a student’s personality and know whether he is likely to persevere in his studies and maintain a good moral character.
In the fifty years since taijiquan has been popularized, many good taiji books and documents have been published (see bibliography). A sincere taiji practitioner should collect and read them. Books are the recording of many years of learning, study, and research. If you do not know how to use this literature to your advantage, you will surely waste more time and energy wandering in confusion. However, you should not completely believe what any book says. What is written are only the author’s opinions and personal experiences. You should read widely, investigate, and then clearly discriminate between the worthwhile and the not-so-worthwhile in what you have read. If you do this well, you can minimize confusion and avoid straying too far from the right path.
In addition, you should take advantage of seminars, summer camps, and other ways to come in touch with experienced masters. In this way, you will be able to catch many key points and gain a “feeling” for many things that you may have only read about. But remember, you must research on your own in great detail in order to achieve a deeper understanding of the art. Thus, it is said, “You don’t ever want to give up your throat; question every talented person in heaven and earth. If [you are] asked: how can one attain this great achievement, [the answer is] outside and inside, fine and coarse; nothing must not be touched upon” (see appendix A-5B).
Training Sequence
Every taiji master has his own sequence of training, emphasizing his methods and content. In this section, the author will list the general training procedures according to his learning experience with three taiji masters and his teaching experience of more than thirty years. This section is a guide only to the bare hand training procedures of taijiquan.
The general sequence of taijiquan training is as follows:
1 Understanding the fundamental theory of taijiquan
2 Relaxation, calmness, and concentration practice
3 Breath training
4 Experiencing and generating qi
5 Qi circulation and breathing
6 Still meditation
7 Fundamental stances
8 Breath-coordination drills
9 Fundamental moving drills
10 Solo taijiquan
11 Analysis of the martial applications of the sequence
12 Beginning taiji pushing hands
13 Fundamental forms of taiji jing training
14 Heng and ha sound training
15 Fast taijiquan
16 Advanced taiji pushing hands
17 Advanced taiji jing training
18 Qi expansion and transportation training
19 Martial applications of taiji pushing hands
20 Free pushing hands
21 Taiji fighting set
22 Taiji free fighting
Before the taiji beginner starts training, he should ask himself several questions. Why do I want to learn taiji? What benefits do I hope to gain? Am I likely to continue training for a long time? After you have answered these questions you should then ask, Does this taiji style offer what I want? Is this master qualified? Does this master have a training schedule? How long and how deep can this master teach me? Will this master teach me everything he knows, or will he keep secrets when I approach a certain level? After I have studied for many years, will I be able to find an advanced master to continue my study? In order to answer these questions you have to survey and investigate. You have to know the historical background of the style and the master’s experience. Once you have answered the above questions, then you can start your taiji study without any doubt or confusion.
The first step in learning taijiquan is to understand the fundamental theory and principles through discussion with your master, reading the available
